• If you find yourself "back in the valley," remember: you're still at a higher elevation than where you started — progress isn't always linear, but it's still progress.
• "Busy" can look like success, but without structure it doesn't compound — you end up back at zero after every closing cycle.
• Erin's rule of thumb: 90 days of consistent activity → results (more conversations, more value, more outreach) and then another runway before revenue fully reflects it.
• The real growth unlock isn't just an action plan — it's an energy shift from regret/fear to hope/confidence, so your actions become magnetic instead of forced.
• The moment your pipeline "pops" is the moment to plan for success: earmark funds, build a runway, and put systems/support in place before busyness dries your pipeline again.

Erin Bradley is a speaker and business coach, bestselling author, and host of the real estate podcast Pursuing Freedom.

As a mortgage lender, Erin learned the hard way just how hard entrepreneurship and success in sales can be. From flat broke to 6 figures, and then to burnout, Erin and her team have been through it all! Erin operates under the mindset that you never give up, and you never settle, in life or in business. Anything is possible when you have the right mindset, great systems, and an amazing team. Erin is passionate about helping others design their ideal life, then create a business that is a vehicle to support that lifestyle, rather than rob you of it. And she's on a mission to help you believe in, and achieve your biggest dreams!

• Business Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PursuingFreedomOfficial
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pursuingfreedomofficial/
• LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-bradley/
  
  

• Get a copy of Pursuing Freedom on Amazon here.
• Subscribe to the Pursuing Freedom podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your podcatcher of choice for weekly inspiration and strategies.
• Pursuing Freedom Collective: https://pursuingfreedom.com/collective

• How Michael accidentally launched a referral engine in his first year by hosting a housewarming party for his very first clients — and walked away with 11 referrals from a single event.
• The "What's Next" concept: Every interaction should naturally lead to a future interaction
• Why events are especially powerful for introverts: you don't need 50 one-to-one conversations when an event creates hundreds of conversations about you.
• How Michael scaled from solo production into a "system of systems" team
• The future of business in the AI era: The winners won't be the ones who out-tech everyone — they'll be the ones who "out-touch" through HI (Human Interaction), supported by AI.

Michael Maher understands the power of Referrals. He is the epitome of how a life can change through the power of connection. Born in a shack in a small town in Kansas, he used his curiosity and humility to build a network that fed him and his business over 500 referrals annually in a business where 5 referrals in a year was above average. His company rapidly earned millions.

Then he wrote a book called (7L) The Seven Levels of Communication: Go from Relationships to Referrals. His network spread the word about this book so fast that it became an Amazon bestseller in just 7 days and has been a bestseller for over 11 years! That book spurred a movement and then a community, The Generosity Generation. This global referral community exchanges referrals daily - and you may be invited to become a part of it. His company, REFERCO, is the foremost authority on business referrals. Michael's network and client list includes presidents and billionaires. He has shared the stage with George W Bush, Tony Robbins, Barbara Corcoran, and Magic Johnson. He's coached many people you've heard of. Today, he is here to help us.

Even though Michael has been given many wonderful titles by the business world, the titles that mean the most to him are husband and father. Michael grew up in Kansas City, and now lives in Atlanta, GA with his wife Sheri, son Max, and their dog Miles. Michael wants to help you build a business that not only feeds your family, but also feeds your soul. Today, you will get some insights on the power of referrals from someone who lives it, breathes it, loves it, and teaches it. A true master. He walks his talk. It is my pleasure to introduce you to my friend, my colleague, Michael J. Maher.

• Website: www.JoinGenGen.com
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GETREFERRALS
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-j-maher-159872366/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/joingengen
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michael.j.maher/

• www.TheBookOnReferrals.com
• www.ReferralsPodcast.com

• Success can look great on paper and still feel empty.
• The hamster wheel is real — and it usually started with fear.
• Growth doesn't have to mean more effort.
• To rewrite the identity, not the to-do list.
• Turn your database into a community.

Erin Bradley is a speaker and business coach, bestselling author, and host of the real estate podcast Pursuing Freedom.

As a mortgage lender, Erin learned the hard way just how hard entrepreneurship and success in sales can be. From flat broke to 6 figures, and then to burnout, Erin and her team have been through it all! Erin operates under the mindset that you never give up, and you never settle, in life or in business. Anything is possible when you have the right mindset, great systems, and an amazing team. Erin is passionate about helping others design their ideal life, then create a business that is a vehicle to support that lifestyle, rather than rob you of it. And she's on a mission to help you believe in, and achieve your biggest dreams!

• Business Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PursuingFreedomOfficial
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pursuingfreedomofficial/
• LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-bradley/

• Happiness & Fulfillment Assessment: https://pursuingfreedom.com/happiness
• Pursuing Freedom Collective: https://pursuingfreedom.com/collective
• Get a copy of Pursuing Freedom on Amazon here.
• Subscribe to the Pursuing Freedom podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your podcatcher of choice for weekly inspiration and strategies.

• How perseverance (not talent) was Ruben's edge — he decided early to stop quitting.
• How Ruben reverse-engineered a plan around his strengths and chose the luge because it rewarded tenacity and outlasting the quitters.
• The power of mentorship as a true "shortcut": borrow someone else's belief, follow their proven path, and stop arguing logical reasons you can't do it.
• Proximity + authenticity win: your energy is the currency, and habits change in the right rooms.
• … and much more!

Ruben Gonzalez is a common man who achieved extraordinary things. He wasn't a gifted athlete. In school he was always the last kid picked to play sports. He didn't take up the sport of luge until he was 21. Four years and a few broken bones later, Ruben was competing in the Calgary Winter Olympics. When he competed at the Vancouver Olympics at the age of 47, Ruben became the first person to ever compete in four Winter Olympics each in a different decade. Since 2002 Ruben has spoken for over 100 of the Fortune 500 companies. He's considered one of the top motivational and inspirational speakers in America. His bestselling books have sold over 300,000 copies and have been translated to over 10 languages. His incredible story takes people's excuses away and fills them with the belief and inspiration to face their challenges and fight for their goals and dreams. People buy into what Ruben teaches because they can relate to him.

• Website: TheLugeMan.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ruben-gonzalez-olympian/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thelugeman

• Success Principles Coaching: RubenU.com
• Ruben's latest book: TheShortcutBook.com
• Pursuing Freedom Podcast interview with Damon Lembi

• Why 2026 is a "new beginning" year
• Before you add more… subtract first: the breakthrough lesson that changed everything
• How consistent activity tends to create results in about 90 days, regardless of season
• Freedom is built through systems + support
• How the biggest leaps (hiring, investing, visibility, grief seasons) were done while scared — and still worked

Erin Bradley is a speaker and business coach, bestselling author, and host of the real estate podcast Pursuing Freedom.

As a mortgage lender, Erin learned the hard way just how hard entrepreneurship and success in sales can be. From flat broke to 6 figures, and then to burnout, Erin and her team have been through it all! Erin operates under the mindset that you never give up, and you never settle, in life or in business. Anything is possible when you have the right mindset, great systems, and an amazing team. Erin is passionate about helping others design their ideal life, then create a business that is a vehicle to support that lifestyle, rather than rob you of it. And she's on a mission to help you believe in, and achieve your biggest dreams!

• Business Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/PursuingFreedomOfficial
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pursuingfreedomofficial/
• LinkedIn Page: https://www.linkedin.com/in/erin-bradley/

• Get a copy of Pursuing Freedom on Amazon here.
• Subscribe to the Pursuing Freedom podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or your podcatcher of choice for weekly inspiration and strategies.

• The life-altering moment that changed everything: a training ride that ended in a 60-mph collision, a coma, and the long road of learning to walk, talk, and live again.
• How adversity can become fuel instead of dead weight — and why "tomorrow is never promised" reframes how we use our time today.
• The difference between knowledge and wisdom, and why mentorship + proximity to high-level thinkers compresses your learning curve.
• A powerful redefinition of wealth: true wealth = ownership of your time, built through aligned assets, income streams, and purpose-driven stewardship.
• Why systems + delegation create scale — and how building teams is the bridge from solopreneur to entrepreneur to capitalist.

Nathan Barkocy is a real estate developer, entrepreneur, and the emerging voice behind the True Wealth movement. He is the co-author—alongside financial legend Sharon Lechter—of the upcoming book Old Wealth, New Wealth, True Wealth, set to publish on January 23, 2026, exactly ten years after a life-altering cycling accident that reshaped his purpose and mission.

From rebuilding his life after being declared dead on the scene, Nathan has gone on to build multiple successful ventures across real estate development, restoration, wellness, and education. He is the founder of Testament Real Estate, Phoenix Real Estate Restoration, and the True Wealth Academy, as well as a growing media brand centered around generational wealth, personal growth, and time freedom.

Guided and mentored by Sharon Lechter, Nathan blends timeless wealth principles with a modern, purpose-driven approach that resonates with the next generation of entrepreneurs and investors. His work emphasizes the pillars of financial literacy, intentional leadership, and building a legacy rooted in impact.

Nathan is currently leading several major development projects—including the Galveston Skyline mixed-use district in Fort Worth and a master-planned resort and casino village in Colorado—and his message has gained national traction, earning endorsements from leaders like Ken McElroy, Russell Gray, Marcin Drozdz, and Mark Victor Hansen.

Through his book, speaking engagements, and the True Wealth community, Nathan is inspiring others to rise above adversity, unlock their God-given potential, and build wealth that lasts across generations.

• Website: NathanBarkocy.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanbarkocy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/p/Nathan-Barkocy-100080039299725/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nathanbarkocy
• YouTube: https://youtube.com/@nathanbarkocy

• https://nathanbarkocy.com/book-presale
• Old Wealth, New Wealth, True Wealth

• How early exposure to money conversations and entrepreneurship shaped her lifelong mission around financial literacy and empowerment
• Why one of her "worst" business decisions ultimately led to her best life decision — and how closing one door often opens many others
• The powerful distinction between chasing income vs. building assets — and why assets only get "sexier" with time.
• Sharon introduces the core message of her upcoming book Old Wealth, New Wealth, True Wealth — redefining success as who you become, not just what you earn.
• A reminder that it's never too late to start, pivot, or rebuild — especially when guided by mentorship, clarity, and aligned risk tolerance.

Sharon Lechter is internationally recognized as a financial literacy expert, keynote speaker and business mentor. She is a 5 time New York Times Bestselling author, successful entrepreneur, philanthropist, and enjoyed a 35 year career as a licensed CPA. She has advised two US Presidents on the topic of financial literacy. Sharon co-authored the international bestseller Rich Dad Poor Dad and 14 other books in the Rich Dad series. In 2008, when the economy crashed, she was asked by the Napoleon Hill Foundation to help re-energize the teachings of Napoleon Hill.

Her best-selling Think and Grow Rich books with the Foundation include Three Feet from Gold, Outwitting the Devil, Think and Grow Rich for Women and Success and Something Greater. She is also featured in the movie Think and Grow Rich: The Legacy and on the national television series World's Greatest Motivators. In 2021, Sharon's title, Exit Rich was released to support entrepreneurs in building value and scalability in their businesses so they can be in the position of greatest potential. Her newest title, How Money Works for Women was released in cooperation with WealthWave Media, a leading publisher of financial education materials in support of women taking control of their financial wellbeing.

Sharon's numerous accolades include most recently an Independent Press award, Trailblazer Legend award and the Presidential Lifetime Achievement award. Sharon continues to drive innovation through technology in collaboration with IQ Hall, a cutting-edge AI-powered educational platform endorsed by UNESCO and aligned with United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

• Website: www.sharonlechter.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharonlechter/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSharonLechter/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sharonlechter/

• How growing up in a tight-knit family shaped Edith's desire to create community and connection in both life and business.
• The importance of seeing people — truly hearing their stories and understanding how human dignity affects every decision they make.
• How hard seasons can become catalysts for finding purpose, building resilience, and creating support systems that strengthen entire communities.
• Edith's belief that leadership comes from generosity — giving time, attention, and encouragement even when life feels full.
• Building businesses that are heart-forward, aligned with service, and grounded in relationships that last.
• …and much more!

Edith Espinola, a top-producing, award-winning Luxury Realtor and intuitive life coach who helps high-achieving women find homes that align with their values, vision, and next-level selves.

As founder of the Espinola Real Estate Team at KW Bay Area Estates, Edith blends over 20 years of real estate success with a soulful, service-driven approach. Her clients, often executives and entrepreneurs, aren't just buying homes; they're creating sanctuaries.

• Website: edithespinola.com
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edithespinola
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EspinolaRealEstateTeam
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/edith_espinola/